The Good
Curt Hennig was one of the most respected pro-wrestlers amongst his peers and for the WWE to release a DVD with a documentary dedicated to him was a bit of a surprise. Like the excellent Brian Pillman DVD, Hennig's life story and his pro-wrestling career have fascinating twists and turns for a story. His legacy as a great athlete and technical workhorse in the ring and a fun-loving ribber outside of the ring is highlighted wonderfully here. It has a light-heartedness to the story that is fitting his personality. The commentary by Greg Gagne, Larry Hennig and Wade Boggs brings this alive and add a dimension to this that makes this similar to the Pillman DVD. The matches on this are also excellent and it is a fair look at a great career that peaked with the unforgettable Mr. Perfect character.

The Bad
As a WWE production, this has the typical WWE slant to it. It makes WWF history look like Mr. Perfect was a given this huge push and was a top guy. He was pushed, he was given a great gimmick and he had some tremendous matches, but other than a house show run with Hulk Hogan, Curt Hennig was always a upper midcarder. The WWF gave the big pushes to the Ultimate Warrior, Sid Justice and other roided up monsters and it was people like Hennig who had to put them over and make them look good. His WCW run mirrored that legacy and then he came back. When Curt Hennig returned in the Royal Rumble, he looked poised to be a top guy. He could have been and probably should have been, but he was not and this fact is not exactly discussed. The drug issues are mentioned briefly, but Hennig was a notorious for his partying. It is not surprising all these factors are omitted. Some of the minor faults are the absence of Bobby Heenan, Lanny Poffo and some of Hennig's AWA peers and the reoccurring presence of Jerry Brisco, Steve Lombardi and even “Mr. Kayfabe” Arn Anderson, which seems to detract more than it adds. If you expect more than a light piece, then look elsewhere because the WWE does not really do heavy material. The Rating: ****1/2

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Missing Link [Shoot Interview]

The Good
There have been few careers quite like that of Dewey Robertson aka The Missing Link. Here is a guy who was a classic cleanie for the first decade-plus of his career, he worked in the middle of the card and had a few shots near the top in Toronto, but lacked that something special to go to the next level. Then in an attempt to reinvent himself as a Mongolian, he was turned into the fur and makeup-wearing Missing Link who did not speak and worked a madman gimmick. Link hit new territories (WCCW, UWF and the WWF) and enjoyed success that he never had before. That story in and of itself is interesting. Then there is the story behind the scenes as the transformation happened, so did new addictions to alcohol, marijuana and steroids. The Link's amazing peak late in his career was followed by an incredible fall that left him a broken man. While that part of the story is not entirely unusual, it is intriguing through this bizarre character's eyes. Sadly, the Link was in his final years at this point as cancer (which he attributed to his substance abuse) took his life.

The Bad
If his ghost writer had not been sitting with him, this interview would have been riddled with mistakes and some key parts left out. Even with that editorial presence, Dewey Robertson says a great number of things that will make you scratch your head. Some of his claims seem astonishing such as him being a dark horse for an NWA title run in the 1970s, putting over Ken Mantell as the real genius of Mid-South and World Class (he certainly had a role, but he's never been labeled a great booker by his peers) and claiming that the whole WWE roster is now using and abusing steroids. Robertson is an interesting fellow and his life story is amazing, but he certainly has some warped perspectives and memories.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

The Good
An excellent look at a handful of deceased wrestlers that are edited and somewhat shortened versions of his WON obits. This is Dave Meltzer's strong suit because he knows things, understands things and is good at explaining things. You get a number of people from the 1950s through modern times. I would think that even the casual fan could enjoy this as I know a couple who've read it and enjoyed it. Meltzer is great at digging up anecdotes and putting a person's legacy into a proper perspective. An enjoyable read from pro-wrestling's preeminent journalist and critic.

The Bad
Obviously there are a few off-facts (from what I've heard, but none stood out to me). The stories are kind of condensed and some might not like that. I really can't point much fault at this, it is what is and probably the best non-autobiographical wrestling book there is. I know a lot of people knock Dave's writing and this is much more cleaned up than the run-on sentences laded grammatical errors, but it still has that Meltzer feel. If you do not like WON, than perhaps you might not like this.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WWE Timeline - 1983 - Don Muraco

The Good
The "Timeline of the WWE" is a tremendous concept that if executed properly could give historians and fans some different perspective. This series could go over 25 parts, assuming they go into the current product, but it seems as though they'll probably hold off on the last decade (although I could be way off on that). Don Muraco is a solid interview with all the honesty, experience and knowledge that you'd want in a concept shoot such as this. He talks bluntly about the Jimmy Snuka "murder" incident, gives good insight to many of the stars of that time period and touches on psychology a bit. This was a great interview and you can really see the great potential in this series, although like the Guest Booker series, it still has a few problems to work out.

The Bad
Although the "Timeline" concept is excellent, this highlighted some of the potential problems. One, Don Muraco had worked for years prior to and after 1984 and so information was often skewed. Two, Muraco is a pretty honest on shoot interviews, but he was simply not an office person, so he was ignorant to much of office goings-on. Three, trying piece together a logical narrative meant heavy editing and the chopped up product felt anything but flowing.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

B. Brian Blair [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Brian Blair has managed to have some fringe relevance after retiring due to his political career, infamous altercation with his son that got some news and more infamously his role as the Iron Sheik's favorite target. I feared this shoot interview would not give enough time to the noteworthy parts of his career to focus on those parts, but luckily it did not. I've heard a few shorter interviews with him and new that he'd be a candidate for a solid interview with good stories and perspective, but this was much better than I anticipated. Blair is really an excellent storyteller and he shares some of his classic like Paul Orndorff biting off Tony Atlas's ear that you may have heard before. Brian Blair comes across as the most likable and honest guy as he describes himself being bullied as a child, weeping over misfortunes in his life and he gets choked up and emotional about a few individuals. He just seems like genuine nice guy and you wonder how the Iron Sheik took to hating him the way he does.

The Bad
If you wanted to here Brian Blair cut a promo on the Sheik, you're not exactly going to get that. Does he have choice words for him? Yes. Does he hold back? Not really and actually makes a pretty touchy accusation. I imagine many people, considering Brian Blair's recent news items, would be disappointed by the calm, cool and collected responses that Blair gives. Many people might disagree with his thoughts on a variety of topics, but even if you think he probably was not the tough guy he makes himself out to be or if you disagree with idea of a flat-tax, you'd probably still see him as well-spoken and thoughtful.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Triple H: King of Kings - There is Only One

Distributor: WWE Home Video
Release Date: 3/08

The Good
It seems like this familiar “best of” series is going to continue after the successes of DVD sets by Ric Flair, The Undertaker and Steve Austin. Instead of putting together a time-consuming documentary, a handful of excellent matches can be paired up with an interview or two by the featured superstar to produce something that can sell. Triple H talks about his career, highlighted by explaining his relationship with Shawn Michaels, the success of Evolution and Batista and lastly his rivalry with John Cena and Edge.

The Bad
Triple H, complete with his lame leather jacket, is the only one talking here and that provides a perspective that is not without baggage. Much of Triple H's career is filled with great angles and great matches, but it is not perfect. Although Evolution was mostly successful with getting Batista over, the same angle done with Randy Orton earlier was rushed and unsuccessful. Triple H talks about putting Batista over for months, which seems like his way of saying how generous he is. Next is his feud with Ric Flair, which was not as great as Triple H would make it seem like. There is also the discussion whether or not Triple H is past his prime and whether or not he will pass the torch gracefully.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Bill DeMott [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Bill DeMott had an unusual career as a long-time overseas foreigner turned WCW midcarder who worked his way up that ladder, failed to do so in the WWF, but found a niche as a trainer. His journey is a great little story in a way. I found his reflections on working Puerto Rico and Japan to be interesting as they were largely positive, despite the infamy associated with both (in Japan, he worked for the tiny, short-lived W*ings garbage group). He was pretty matter of fact about his less-than-stellar years as Hugh Morrus is WCW. Although he achieved remarkable success later on, DeMott's rollercoaster career seems to largely be on the mid-level of the card. When he eventually gets to the Invasion angle, he grows more upset. While he seems to understand and is able to explain the shortcomings of the feud, he clearly lost a chance to get a good slot in the WWF. Instead, his career pattered off and ended. Then came Tough Enough 3. Bill DeMott is clearly passionate about working with youngsters, developing talent and creating a learning environment for aspiring WWF/WWE superstars. As a key trainer in Deep South Wrestling, WWE's short-lived secondary development territory, DeMott was able to help people like The Miz, MVP and a handful of other young talent that are climbing the WWE ladder now. He still seems embittered by the sudden closing of DSW and wants to be involved in the business, but has few options now.

The Bad
When I original got my hands on this, I thought it was the Highspots shoot that looked like (according to the trailer) the raging promo of a bitter cast-off. It was not that. Although, that Highspots shoot wasn't necessarily that either. Bill DeMott is clearly angry, or at the least disappointed, in a number of people. He seems frustrated that as he was peaking in WCW, he was dealt a tough hand with the company dying and his role did not work out in the WWF. Bill DeMott seems at peace with some of the unfortunate events of his career and even admits that he was a bit over-the-top in the aforementioned shoot interview. While those bitter and angry shoot interviews are not always the most palpable, they can be pretty bland if you expect that and do not get it.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Pat Tanaka [SmartMarkVideo Shoot Interview]

The Good
Sometimes you just get the feeling that shoot interview is going to be excellent with no real reason. Pat Tanaka had a somewhat uneventful career and I had no real reason to believe that he'd have some keen insight or hilarious road stories because I'd never heard him in a shoot or really mentioned for that matter. However, he did tour around a lot, he was the son of the legendary Duke Keomuka, he broke in over in New Japan and he and partner Paul Diamond were pretty successful for a time as Badd Company. What I did not expect was that Pat Tanaka was almost a carbon copy of his one-time best friend Marty Jannetty. He was a hellion who was more into wine, women and song than working out, developing mic skills or trying to get over with the office. Pat Tanaka was by his own admission, a "f**k up." He was the son of a legend, the nephew of a legend and in one of the hottest territories in the world, but screwed around too much to gain much from those advantages. He was a fun-loving guy who spent much of his time in Japan getting in trouble for excessive partying. He was a big ribber who tried to stay even with Curt Hennig and the Nasty Boys. He was a small guy in a big man's business, who was a great natural worker, but let poor choices stop him again and again. This was an excellent look into Tanaka's career and he seemed frank about himself and loved to put people over. Although brief, his recollections of his time in Japan are priceless. Obviously, there are not many gaijin who got as entrenched as he did with the native talent, so getting some perspective on them is unique. I found this to be a really positive and interesting shoot interview and it did not disappoint me.

The Bad
How many "what a fantastic guy," "he was a great worker" and "no comments" can you sit through. Although this did not reach Jimmy Snuka levels of vagueness, Tanaka certainly spent plenty of time dishing out these generic statements. The "no comment" crew was obviously intriguing: Scott Hall, Tojo Yamamoto and a few others. Obviously, the juicy details behind those were such that he just did not want to share them. This was not free of burials though. He knocked Konnan as a "nobody," Shinya Hashimoto as a "piece of sh*t" who took dangerous liberties in the ring and even his partner Paul Diamond as an endless complainer who enjoyed making moves on other guy's girlfriends/wives/etc. If Tanaka would go on about those people and not others, you have to wonder what the story is behind his "no comment" statements. The biggest question mark in this is the almost complete absence of discussing his Orient Express run in the WWF. He talks about getting the call, teaming with Akio Sato (mostly beforehand) and his departure (due to Diamond stabbing him in the back), but that is about it. No Mr. Fuji, no Rockers feud, no Sato being replaced by Kato (Diamond), it was just missing here.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Ronnie P. Gossett [Highspots Shoot Interview]

The Good
If you don't know who Ronnie P. Gossett is, he is a heel manager of the Percy Pringle, Jim Cornette or Kenny Bolin grain. A slick talker who plays an arrogant, yet blubbery Southern jerk, Gossett never really traveled much outside of Tennessee where he was staple for a long time. Sometimes listening to that guy who worked a territory for many years is more fascinating because there is more depth. Listening to his thoughts on Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler was insightful. I've always been under the impression that Jarrett's booking was superior to Lawler's (they switched off every six months), but Gossett refutes that. He has choice comments for all kinds of stars who came through the Tennessee region. Certainly there were many and he had anecdotes about many and opinions on people whether they came through or not. There is all kind of great tales here, whether it is Ronnie selling Nick Gulas's promotion to some "marks" (a lawyer, a doctor, etc.) or him talking about Brian Pillman being a gigolo. Gossett is a fantastic talker (he was a great Southern manager after all), so he is able to really bury some people. The Jarretts, Hulk Hogan, Bill Dundee, Missy Hyatt, Bert Prentice and on and on, no one is immune to the wrath of Ronnie P. Gossett.

The Bad
If you don't have any interest in Southern wrestling, specifically Tennessee rasslin', then you probably will not care for this. Honestly, Gossett does not seem bitter, but he certainly has some grudges. He has a lot of negative things to say and rips on a lot of people, if that seems bitter or angry to you, then avoid this shoot interview. The one thing I felt was missing was that it was pretty widely known that Gossett was gay. Although not part of his persona, it just seems that his life in pro-wrestling as a gay man has some intrigue that was never touched upon here. Sadly, Gossett died shortly after this interview.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Stan Hansen [RF Video's "Behind Closed Doors" Shoot Interview]

The Good
RF Video's second shoot interview with Stan Hansen is not much different from the first. It is a little more scattered, but that can be okay. Stan Hansen has a variety of experiences in both the US and Japan that could be explored. Rob goes more into the Japanese experiences than I would have expected, but ultimately his ignorance of the culture, product and legacy of Stan Hansen limit the depth of discussion there. Hansen explains how he grew to enjoy Japan, why the preferred that style and some of his experiences with different people in and out of the ring. Overall, he seems to understand the nature of this interview better than previous outings, so he is a little more open. I found this enjoyable, but it was certainly not all I would have hoped for.

The Bad
A notorious kayfaber, Stan Hansen even says, "What's kayfabe?" when asked about it. Rob takes the bait and tries to explain it before realizing how stupid he is. Hansen sort of knows what the score is and answers a fair number of question with "that's what I've heard, so it must be true" and perpetuates old angles with a grin (i.e. breaking Bruno's neck with the Lariat). While he was not as bad as I've heard, it got aggravating at times as he did not give the straightforward answer you'd hope for. Overall, it seems that Rob's inability to develop a narrative, ask follow-up questions or carefully ask more prying questions really hindered this. If Stan Hansen wants to play the kayfabing game, you've got to be a better interviewer to get more out of them. People like Arn Anderson, Jimmy Valiant and Stan Hansen will always be worthwhile people to interview, but it takes a quality interviewer to get them to really shoot.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Italian Stallion [HighspotsShoot Interview]

The Good
A classic underneath talent, whose legitimacy, influence and background made for some surprising and fascinating listening. Stallion's background as a decorated amateur wrestler with Olympic potential was nothing short of shocking. Furthermore, he took that skill set and became a bookie is just as shocking. The story of this tough guy who set a World record in spaghetti-eating transitioning to pro-wrestling is so bizarre it seems unlikely. Stallion did work with a lot of big stars and was able to have a distinct career, so he has the types of stories and perspectives that make for a worthwhile shoot interview. He was a good storyteller for the most part, so I think Michael Bochicchio's assumption that old-school fans of Jim Crockett Promotions are the ones who'll buy this shoot is an accurate one. The one story in here that stood out above all the others, in my opinion, was the one where Ronnie Garvin recruited him to get back money from Angelo Poffo from back in the ICW days. Garvin and Lanny Poffo are the only two talking and neither says much about the ICW, so any tidbit (such as this, true or not) is welcome.

The Bad
An amateur wrestling career that reached almost Olympic proportions? A personal recommendation letter from Vince McMahon Sr. to get into the business? A free ride from the Crocketts while breaking in? I do not have information to contradict this, but it seems almost ludicrous enough that I want to doubt it at face value. Many pro-wrestlers though, especially pre-wrestling school pro-wrestlers, have these kinds of unusual tales of getting into the business. Then comes Stallion's interaction with the Hardy Boyz. While I'm sure both of them did exactly tell the whole truth, his version is a rebuttal to their's so it seems more plausible. The Hardy Boyz were untrained, undersized, underaged backyard wrestler when the Italian Stallion came across them. He claims that their ability to do incredible spots was the catalyst to him bringing the WWF as jobbers. Although it becomes muddled after that. He took them, got them breaks and took all (or almost all their earnings) because, in his view, he took a huge risk by bringing them in. Now, the Hardy Boyz got a break, became huge stars and the WWF repaid Stallion by never using him or his charges? Somehow, I simply cannot believe everything that he says about this story, however it did make me question the Hardy Boyz's version as well.

Friday, September 17, 2010

George Steele [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Sometimes I am baffled at how well an RF Shoot interview goes. I've heard a number of George Steele interviews on different shows, including 57Talk and Legends Radio, but none of them could even touch this one. First of all, he starts off with, "Do you want to
George or Jim?" Of course, the well-spoken and insightful Jim Meyers does the interview and really gives a lesson. He explains psychology, he explains leverage with promoters, he explains the logic of his career choices and he explains how he went from a serious heel to a cartoon character. All along the way, he throws is funny stories, yells at the dozing off crew and realistically sets himself up for a second shoot interview (about developing his George Steele character, his struggles with learning disabilities and his successes as a teacher/coach that ran parallel to his pro-wrestling career). RF's goofy trailers never made this seem like a top-notch shoot and it is certainly not Rob's doing, it is all the brilliance of Jim Meyers. This is a classic.

The Bad
I had thought Al Snow's second RF Video shoot was exceptional in that he really got into the meat and potatoes of psychology. While he has his own perspectives, it was enjoyable to listen to. This is along that line, but George Steele really explores his own career. The advantage he had is that his seasonal approach (summer runs when school was out for him) meant he did not have as many matches and therefore not as many angles, feuds, etc. Surely, some people would want him to spend more time on these and less on the psychology. Some people would probably prefer it the way around. Regardless, this is not hampered by all the usual RF Video flaws because the power of Jim Meyers' personality and his ability to talk and explain for hours.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Face Off 8 - Midnight Madness - Raven & Jim Mitchell

The Good

Another RF Video Face-Off starring Raven. This time he is joined by Jim Mitchell and the two of them have just returned from the late Chris Kanyon's wake. Obviously, they spend plenty of time recollecting their memories of Kanyon, his coming out, his battles with depression and his generosity. It is a nice little tribute in that way. Then, they get off onto promos, psychology and the current product. It is hit-or-miss in those parts. I think if you generally like listening to Raven, were an ECW fan or whatever, you can enjoy this for sure. These two have distinct personalities and in all their tales of debauchery and such, there is a friendship here that comes out. A fun little FaceOff, although maybe not the best.

The Bad
Raven, who I love listening to, seems to be off a bit and while he and "Vandy" have some chemistry, this does not work like previous Raven FaceOffs. Mitchell, while a great promo and an interesting fellow, is totally all over the page here. This seems like two guys chatting and it is such disorganized stream of consciousness discussion that it can hardly be considered a shoot interview. I guess Rob can just throw in a few questions, offer up some chocolate wine and pizza along with how much ever money and we'll get an interesting shoot. For what I expected, this was grossly disappointing.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Lanny Poffo [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
I remember hearing a little about this interview with Lanny Poffo before listening to it. It was described as one of the best RF Shoots and I think I can agree with that. Lanny Poffo is a fantastic talker. He is eloquent, he is sincere and he has that great cadence to his voice. This is unlike any other shoot interview because Lanny is just a unique personality and he makes many of his peers seem strikingly redundant. How can you not be taken aback when a pro-wrestler is quoting Thomas Jefferson, the Gospel of Matthew and Tigger!? Lanny Poffo might not have had the type of career that makes him a "legend," but he is second-generation, brother to one of the biggest stars ever and worked in many companies with many big names. While he pulls no punches when burying people like Ole Anderson, Rick Rude and the Von Erichs, he also can give them their due. In the same token, he puts over Ric Flair, Grizzly Smith and Curt Hennig, but is able to explain their flaws as well. While I do not always agree with his viewpoints, he is certainly one who believes in them and himself and you cannot fault him for that.

The Bad
I suppose some people would find Lanny Poffo's interviewing style off-putting. He is not your typical pro-wrestler in terms of using salty language, coming across as bitter and such. He has a very distinct way of talking and explaining situations, which I'm sure some people would find obnoxious. The only knock I could make is that he gets sidetracked frequently, but luckily nothing seems to be left out. If you don't like it when interviewees go off on rants about anyone and everyone, then you might want to avoid this one. However, Lanny explains the difference between "objective" and "subjective," I realize that my view of this is "subjective" and I deem it to be amongst the best of the best.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

King Kong Bundy [Pro-Wrestling Diaries Shoot Interview]

The Good
I have largely enjoyed Pro-Wrestling Diaries shoots and you could definitely make a case that this one was their best. King Kong Bundy, who worked on top in the WWF in their glory days of the 1980s, crossed paths with many legendary and not-so-legendary personalities. He is an extremely honest person, has a great sense of humor and excellent delivery (he has done some stand-up after all). While some might think he comes across as bitter, I think he comes across as pretty down-to-earth and straightforward. He has his pet peeves (poor tippers, stooges, bullies and selfish types) and he is willing to fling mud at anyone and everyone. However, he does not out and out bury many people. He admits if he had a personality clash with someone like Randy Savage or Andre the Giant, but typically he can give people credit if they were talented. While a lot of this is negative, it almost seems like a comedy act as he plays a nasty old Don Rickles. Bret Hart became very conceited, Honky Tonk Man ran out on bills, Ernie Ladd manipulated youngsters for his own benefit, Andre the Giant was petty and selfish, Bam Bam Bigelow had delusions of grandeur and so on. Many opinions are widely held - Nikolai Volkoff and Tony Garea were cheap to a fault; the Dynamite Kid, Bill Watts and Adrian Adnois were bullies; and Hulk Hogan's boys (Honky, Brutus, etc.) grew big egos and never sold the fact that Hogan brought them to the dance. This seemed to provide some unique perspectives as well as much of the same old stuff.

The Bad
I feel like overly negative shoot interviews are not necessarily everyone's preference, but many people who invest in them want some real meat to their shoots. King Kong Bundy provides that here. Of course, he has a number of guys who were "good guys" and even some them he points out their personality flaws. Many were "pricks" or "assholes" who abused their peers, fans or just everyday folks. Bundy seems to be a man of some moral fiber and he was bothered by some of the negative things he saw in the business whether it was drug abuse, attitude problems or some of things that rubbed him the wrong way that I previously mentioned. This was enjoyable, but realize that it is not all pats on the back and putting people over.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Youshoot with the Honky Tonk Man [Kayfabe Commentaries]

The Good
The Honky Tonk Man was the ideal person to debut the Youshoot series. Although the wacky and even spiteful submissions were not as plentiful in this one, it certainly sold you on the greatness of this series. HTM really comes across as honest and even bitter to an extent, but unlike people like Paul Orndorff, Ole Anderson and Billy Jack Haynes, you do not end up really disliking him. He is, at least in my opinion, hilarious with all his voices and facial expressions that make him a great storyteller. Mud-slinging can get tedious, but Honky just spews it in such a way that you cannot help but love it. And no one seems to be immune to his wrath. Billy Gunn was worthless, Blackjack Lanza was two-faced, Ric Flair was "woooo" a repetitive "woooo" cartoon character, Dynamite Kid is a lying bully, Hulk Hogan was a huge druggie, Jim Ross was a sabotager and on and on. Honky Tonk is very open about his own drug use, promiscuity and limitations as a worker, which allows him so credibility when he rips on others. I still question whether or not he is not working everyone (like the Iron Sheik is).

The Bad
I never liked Honky Tonk Man as a worker, I still don't care for him, yet he was gifted in so many ways. Talking, his strong suit, allows him to get himself over regardless of his physical abilities. He is undoubtedly getting himself over here. He is very careful in what he says and while he may not be entirely accurate or even fair, he says things with a conviction that gets him over. Part of me feels like I get swept up in that charismatic delivery and sometimes I fail to see the gaping holes in his statements. That being said, this is wildly entertaining.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Bob Roop ("Shooting with the Legends" Interview)

The Good
Scott Teal's "Shooting with the Legends" series is excellent in so many regards. While Scott himself is very knowledgeable and could intelligently interview any legend, he chooses the best. Bob Roop is one of a number of well-regarded stars from yesteryear that can tell great stories, share unique perspectives and pull no punches while doing so. Roop talks extensively about a number of topics, specifically his amateur background, time as an unwilling hired gun for promoters and his experiences in Florida. Although this is lengthy (about four hours), Roop is able to go all over the place and expound upon whatever he wants. He gives his honest thoughts on Eddie Graham, Gordon Solie, Buddy Fuller and several other legends. He seems very open about his abilities and inabilities, not coming across like the pompous bully he's been labelled as before. A definite highlight of this was Bob talking about his experiences abroad. Not in the common places like Australia and Japan, but also Europe and Iraq. This could have gone on another four hours and I think there'd be no shortage of material. Just a masterpiece that you've got to get your hands on.

The Bad
Certainly there are areas of Bob Roop's career that go uncovered, but I'll take omissions of his tenures in Mid-South, the Army of Darkness and so on for some of the depth and variety he shares. For someone who booked a few notable territories, he sure did not get into booking psychology much. I think Roop tried to be honest, but it seems like some of his stories do not jive well with others'. Regardless of those few negatives, I'd rate this as a top-notch shoot interview.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Rocky Johnson Shoot Interview [RF Video]

The Good
If you take a well-travelled and opinionated ex-wrestler and put him in front of a camera he can generally produce a solid shoot interview. Rocky Johnson worked in most major and several minor territories in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, he saw great successes and some disappointments, so why should this not be a fascinating shoot? Even with RF's standard questions, constant name association and fixation on chronology, Johnson is able to pull the listener in with some great tales and bold thoughts. He is honest about those people he disliked, distrusted and disassociated from because they were crooks, racists or two-faced backstabbers. Without seeming bitter or angry, Rocky Johnson is able to tell much of his story. I also felt the parts involving The Rock were kept to a respectful level considering that Rocky has his own legacy.

The Bad
Sometimes these shoot interviews are just long and tedious with little new information, few stories of interest and nothing of great value. This was not one of those, but it did seem to fall short in a way. Rocky Johnson was pretty frank and while he was not the most entertaining interview, he certainly had plenty to say. I actually had pretty low expectations for this, despite Johnson's extensive and well-travelled career. It was, as expected, lacking in both direction and depth. Rob Feinstein was his usual self, all over the place with obvious holes in his(?) research and no follow-up to questions. You could tell that Rocky Johnson, if challenged and guided, could be an intriguing interview. Let's hope somebody of note gets ahold of him.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

John Nord [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
I think anyone who is strongly associated with individuals in pro-wrestling who either don't do interviews or cannot do interviews (because they have passed away) are always going to have some interest no matter how marginal that person is. If a guy who worked security for the Von Erichs in World Class or someone who worked as a referee for Killer Kowalski can make for an interesting interview than whose to say who is really deserving of interviews. John Nord had some success as the Barbarian, the Berzerker and such, but what makes him really interesting is the people he grew up with, worked alongside and got to know in the business. A childhood friend of Curt Hennig, a later friend of high school rival Road Warrior Hawk and a partner and close buddy of Bruiser Brody, John Nord has known some remarkable people who have passed on. He is a goofy dude though and while I'm suspicious of some things he says, he certainly can tell some funny and interesting stories. Whether it's Dusty Rhodes' "muffler," Curt Hennig's legendary ribs or the lockerroom brawl with Butch Reed that is well-known, John Nord had some fresh material for sure.

The Bad
John Nord could be the most sincere and honest person ever, but my gut thinks otherwise. Not that he's necessarily lying, but if you'd never seen him or heard much about him, you'd be wondering why. He was basically a midcard talent who got a few solid pushes here and there. He was friends with a lot of people, he was an impressive looking big man with some athletic ability, he had several key chances to get over. It never happened. The few things I've heard people (Bill Watts, Gary Hart and a couple others) mention in other shoots have never been overly flattering. This is a fun shoot interview to listen to, but I'd definitely take it with a grain of salt.

Friday, August 6, 2010

The Good
It's a unique book that gets into aspects of wrestling that we all thought we'd have to wait a while to hear about. The story of being a young guy coming up through the indies, jobbing on TV and working up the card is one will hear in the future and though Foley kind of lived that life, his story is far from typical. As for the dual authors...Jeff is Jeff and that's all that can really be said about that. Matt thankfully has most of the say here and he has many worthwhile comments about learning the craft, the fan-to-worker phenomenon, understanding psychology and some surprising comments about the decline of WWF/WWE. Most comments I've read online have been very positive and I think most people enjoy this book for what it is. I guess some might find it inspirational and others will find it just interesting, but I think this was a decent little book.

The Bad
I started reading this surprisingly shortly after it came out. I got about 1/5 of the way through and was just bored with it. I had other things to do and this book just didn't keep my interest, which is rare. Most people knocked this as WWE trying to cash in on the teeny boppers love of the Hardy Boyz, which it probably was. The format bothers a lot of people and it kind of breaks up the train of thought as there is a looseness to this that you don't really want in a biography because it convinced me this was easy to put down. Their insight is generally good, especially Matt's. The one glaring exception is, "It's a different time now. Jeff and I were part of the last generation to truly pay dues." (pg. 189). This might have been a lash out against Tough Enough, but it seems like a big slap in the face of all the indy talent that work really hard and have probably less chances than the Hardy Boyz did in the 90s.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Good
Amy Dumas's life story is an interesting one and her character has connected with so many young women and this is the WWE trying to capitalize on all that. Her pre-wrestling life as a punk rock stripper is unique and this audiobook brings that to life. The pro-wrestling stuff is good lip service and most Lita fans will enjoy it for what it is.

The Bad
Lita's story is interesting. This book breaks down into three basic sections: life before pro-wrestling, the pro-wrestling life and her comeback from a broken neck. The first part is glazed over and could definitely be fascinating, but doesn't do what it could. The second part is her running down her four year career from Mexico to indies to ECW to the WWF. It's all very rushed and lacks both depth and the quality anecdotes to make up for that. The third part is her doing the Dark Angel TV show, breaking her neck, the saga afterwards and the surgery and recovery. This has a lot of real emotion and saves this book from being terrible. Then the comeback...oh wait, it doesn't happen. Due to her never really having a quality in-ring comeback, her character never regaining its footing and the hasty release of this book, this story seems so incomplete. It has the potential and maybe future additions can make it a full story, but for now it is just disappointment. This audiobook version probably detracts from the first two parts and adds to the third with mixed results.

Monday, August 2, 2010

**For my 100th content-oriented post, I thought I'd do something a little different. This is a paper I wrote for a media ethics class as an undergraduate about 10 years ago.**

I will start with a comparison of sorts. Most people like movies; there is such variety that there is always one genre for anyone. I’ll bet you could easily think of ten movies you enjoy. Look at how highly our culture regards actors, we are a people enamored with those who entertain us. Now pretend that only you are a movie-lover and there is an active negative stigma towards Hollywood. What if the majority of the country assumed all movies comprised of pornography, bad sci-fi and horror flicks, cheesy adult thrillers and potty humor comedies. Even if the great actors and movies still existed, no one acknowledged their greatness because the masses assumed the aforementioned garbage was what dominated Hollywood. That is what is like to be a fan of professional wrestling.

I personally do not remember a time in my life I was not a fan. Cartoonish gimmicks drew me in as a little boy and as I grew to understand how the sport worked, I enjoyed it that much more. Yes, I know it’s not “real,” but neither was Braveheart and I still liked that. The fact is pro-wrestling must maintain a certain level of illusion (the insider word for that is “kayfabe”) to keep the fans happy and non-fans just cannot comprehend that necessity. Regardless, pro wrestlers are real people with real lives outside of that “fake” world. When the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) began going into a more mature direction and enjoying great popularity, I began to lose my interest in their product. While I still enjoyed parts of it, I wanted something that was more like a serious sport than a ridiculous soap opera.

Enter Dave Meltzer. I had heard the name here and there, but it was not until I heard his Internet radio show that I discovered the other side of professional wrestling. He talked with the wrestlers, who were not the characters they were on television, instead they were regular guys who played the part. He smartened me up to exactly what I liked about wrestling. Similar to how one might like a certain actor’s movies, but not know why. The little things from facial expressions to believable delivery make actors great – wrestlers are no different. He told me what was going on in other parts of the world, notably Japan, which has the most realistic style of wrestling that I now find the most enjoyable. Dave’s exhaustive study of professional wrestling has been displayed in his successful weekly newsletter, newspaper columns, books, documentaries, TV shows, radio shows and so on. He provides more than just the facts; he gives fascinating insight, critique and analysis. Dave has been quite an inspiration to me in my college years as a student of journalism. So I leaped at the chance of being able to get his insight into media ethics.

Dave Meltzer went to San Jose State University and while he may not have studied ethics, he “absolutely believes in them.” While detractors of wrestling might consider anyone who would cover such a regularly unethical world, unethical by association, Dave is seemingly always the opposite. He understands “some choose to live by them and others choose to live for money or fame.” One who might live for the latter two is Vince MacMahon, the head of the WWF. When covering McMahon’s actions, Meltzer is anything but unfair; he does not avoid criticism when they deserve it or praise when they earn that. “It’s already established WWF will go to any lengths for money.” That sort of scrutiny might be considered harsh, but Dave backs that argument up week after week, showing his not a bandwagon-jumping opponent of the company. While some might believe attacking the most popular wrestling company in the world is career suicide, Dave is so well-respected amongst “insiders” that he does not have to compromise his integrity.

The necessity of “kayfabe” in wrestling makes Dave’s job trickier than in other reporting pursuits. He calls it this the “the biggest challenge [because] it's a world where people are constantly lying and [it is] a profession that considers it honorable to lie.” In spite of this ever-present dilemma, Dave expresses a desire to expose the truth whatever it may be because “it is the most important thing to try your best to do so.”
People who say things with ulterior motives or dodge the truth plague professional wrestling, so Dave’s approach is uplifting and as a result he is highly thought of by many. Since the development of the Internet, less credible “reporters” have been able to elbow in on reporting this other side of wrestling. They may get the scoops, but “it's far more important to get the story right than get it first” and in the end, it is always Dave Meltzer getting all the facts. Dave knows “the nature of all journalism is that sometimes you are going to get things wrong. It's impossible to avoid.” So, in the instances in which he is wrong, he admits his mistakes.
Being so connected to the wrestling community, Dave has his share of friends whose activity he must review. While that seems like a conflict of interest, he remains unwavering in covering their activities. “If someone who I'm friends with has a bad match, I don't have any kind of a problem saying so, and if they get arrested, I haven't had any problem reporting on it.” While his style of reporting has been met with public insults from wrestlers and uncooperative actions from companies, Dave refuses to let it affect his integrity. “I never really worry about how others judge me or will judge me when I'm writing.”

Lastly, he addressed the issue of social responsibility. “It's very important to address social responsibility, but you can only go so far.” Vince McMahon and the WWF are usually at the center of Meltzer’s attacks in this area. They are the ones who push the status quo and catch heat from outsiders and insiders alike. Dave has been featured on documentaries about the negative effects of pro-wrestling and is always quick to set things straight. He does not take the defensive position on McMahon’s side nor the uninformed opposing side that goes with generalizations, but rather raises important questions as to what is really going on because he knows best. When McMahon says the product the WWF produces is no worse than shows on late night cable, Dave always points out how they are in primetime and have a different target audience. “Once you're talking about someone who will peddle softcore porn to a sizeable under-12 audience, you can only say something so many times when nobody cares…you're going to be very disappointed if you expect a wrestling promoter (like McMahon) to be socially responsible.”

Dave Meltzer continues to be an inspiration to me in many ways. I once admired him because he knew so much about such a fascinating and secretive world. Then I saw how much he has done and continues to do as a journalist covering something with such a negative stigma. Now I appreciate his ethical beliefs. He is someone who sincerely believes in being as truthful as possible and does not let anything compromise that belief. People might disagree with his opinions, but no one can question his integrity and for that many people, myself included, are grateful.